Graduation speaker chosen

This year's graduation ceremonies will feature a distinguished Hoosier the University has been after for years.\nIndiana Sen. Richard Lugar will act as commencement speaker for the Class of 2003 on May 10 at Assembly Hall.\nThough the University has invited Lugar to speak at graduation before, this year's address will be his first.\n"Lugar has also expressed interest, but his schedule has not permitted it." IU spokesman Bill Stephan said. "He has a number of strong relationships among the administration and faculty at IU. This year everything came together."\nStephan said the University looks for commencement speakers who have distinguished themselves in their fields and made contributions to humanity. Also, ties to Indiana and IU are looked for but not required.\n"When you look for individuals who meet those criteria, Senator Lugar is someone who is near the top of that list," he said.\nIndiana elected Lugar to a state record fifth consecutive senate term in 2000. Currently the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has served on the committees of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry since his first term in 1976.\nThough he gained fame for his many endeavors, including a 1996 presidential bid, the senator is perhaps best known for his peace-making policies. A committed Republican, Lugar was one of few members of his party who did not fully support President Bush's war policy in Iraq.\n"In this time of turmoil in the Middle East and uncertainty in the world, we are honored that Senator Lugar will join us in Bloomington to address our graduates," IU interim president Gerald Bepko said in a press release. "He is a stalwart state, national and international leader, and his comments will be pertinent to our students."\nThe senator has a history of involvement with Bloomington. In addition to giving past speeches on campus, in the summer of 2002 Lugar opened the IU International Studies Summer Institutes and the International Agricultural Education Summer Institute. \n"We have previously presented the senator with an honorary degree, and we are pleased he will return as an honorary alumnus for another important commencement message," Bepko said.\nThough not all IU seniors fall on Lugar's side of the political spectrum, most hold the senator in a position of respect and are looking forward to his address.\n"Being politically minded, I think it would be nice to have a speaker coming from a less conservative standpoint," said senior Jeff Wurzburg, a political science major. "It's still great to have someone so renowned speaking to us at graduation -- especially a well-respected senator."\nSenior Matt Nykiel, a pre-medicine major, agreed.\n"I think it's impressive that we have a U.S. senator who is so concerned about college graduates and the future of our country's young minds," he said.\nLugar will be the keynote speaker at both the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. commencement sessions.